TEASER
FADE IN:
INT. DUNGEON - DAY
Xena and Gabrielle lie on the grungy floor unconscious and
without their weapons. They're chained up.
Xena awakes with a stir. She looks pissed. She tries to
free herself from her chains by pulling on them. The
rattling wakes Gabrielle. She looks at their surroundings,
groggy.
GABRIELLE
Where are we?
XENA
Dungeon.
Gabrielle realizes they're in chains.
GABRIELLE
What's happened?
XENA
Yleina played us. She had her men
knock us out. Why -- I don't know.
Gabrielle sits up. She sees a large group of warriors
building something through a window with bars. Xena notices.
XENA
What do you see?
GABRIELLE
A lot of warriors.
XENA
Can you tell how many?
GABRIELLE
Hmm... hundreds, maybe thousands.
A beat as Xena grimaces.
XENA
We gotta get outta these chains.
YLEINA (O.S.)
Don't worry. You'll be out of them
soon enough.
And in walks YLEINA with about a dozen men.
XENA
What are you up to?
YLEINA
That's none of your business.
GABRIELLE
Why are you doing this? We were
trying to help you.
Yleina looks at Gabrielle, rueful.
YLEINA
I know. I really wished I could
have left you out of this.
(turns to face Xena)
But as for you, Xena... I owe you
nothing but pain. My mother may
have forgiven you, but I haven't.
My people had it pretty bad under
Augustus' rule, but when Livia came
into power -- you know, your
daughter -- well let's just say we
thought we knew what pain was
before she came along.
(bitter smile)
Like mother, like daughter. I
didn't have to work hard to
convince you to come with me at
all. All it took was a sob story
about how I was one of your victims
from the past and you fell for it.
XENA
You're not a victim.
YLEINA
That's right, I'm not.
Yleina throws a cruel smile Gabrielle's way.
YLEINA
(to her men)
Take them outside.
Yleina's men go for Xena and Gabrielle as :
END OF TEASER
ACT ONE
FADE IN:
EXT. TORTURE AREA - DAY
Yleina's men drag Xena and Gabrielle towards a smorgasbord of
dangerous contraptions. There are four wooden ponies here as
well.
Yleina walks up behind her men.
YLEINA
Chain Gabrielle up.
Several men chain Gabrielle to a wooden pony. Xena watches,
silently afraid for her partner. Yleina watches Xena. She
smiles.
YLEINA
Position Xena so she can watch.
The men do as they're told. Xena struggles, but she has a
dozen men holding her down.
YLEINA
Do it.
A man rips Gabrielle's skirt off. She tries to break free of
her restraints, but can't.
A man moves to touch her.
GABRIELLE
Don't touch me! No! Don't --
He smacks her. He then proceeds to rape and beat her along
with another man (O.S.). We hear Gabrielle's screams
throughout the beating and rape.
GABRIELLE
XENA!!!
Xena becomes enraged. She struggles against her captors,
even knocking a few around, but she fails again. It's
certainly not for lack of effort because Xena put up one
helluva fight; she just has too many men on her.
Yleina watches Xena through out Gabrielle's ordeal, smiling
at her.
EXT. TORTURE AREA - LATER
Gabrielle lies on the ground, battered and bloodied, and for
all intents and purposes, dead.
Xena looks at her body, heartbroken, as she's being forced on
a wooden pony by several men.
One of the men moves to strip Xena of her clothing when:
YLEINA
No! I'm doing this one.
The man backs off.
Yleina grabs a spear, heads for Xena. Xena's eyes widen ever
so slightly. She still puts the ool in cool.
Yleina continues toward Xena, then stops when she's a few
inches from her. She looks at the spearhead, fondles it.
YLEINA
Even I'm not that sadistic.
She snaps the spearhead off with her hand and continues
toward Xena.
EXT. FOREST - MOMENTS LATER
Xena screams so loudly that she causes the birds in the trees
to come flying out.
EXT. ROADSIDE - DAY
Yleina and her men ride along. They toss Xena and
Gabrielle's bodies out onto the road without pause.
Xena and Gabrielle's bodies roll down a hill by the road.
EXT. LAKESIDE - CONTINUOUS
Xena and Gabrielle's bodies land. They both look like
goners.
A wolf comes strutting over to them. He sniffs Xena's foot.
This prompts Xena to kick him in the chest, sending him
flying into the lake.
Xena comes to, grabs her head. She sees Gabrielle a couple
of feet away from her, unconscious. She crawls to her.
XENA
Gabrielle? Gabrielle?
Xena grabs Gabrielle's wrist. Checks for a pulse. She looks
relieved.
Gabrielle comes to. Xena tries to hold her. Gabrielle pulls
away. Xena looks hurt.
GABRIELLE
(surprised)
We're alive.
XENA
They probably thought they beat us
to death.
GABRIELLE
(rubs head)
Sure feels like they did.
Xena looks at Gabrielle as though she's sorry for something.
XENA
I'm so sorry, Gabrielle. I was so
focused on trying to make amends
for my past that I nearly got us
both killed.
Xena tries to put her hand on Gabrielle's shoulder for
support, but much to Xena's chagrin, Gabrielle pulls away
again.
GABRIELLE
This isn't your fault. You were
just trying to do the right thing.
Yleina took advantage of that.
Xena stands up. She tries to help Gabrielle do the same, but
gets a:
GABRIELLE
I can do it myself.
And she does.
XENA
We have to get to Rome.
GABRIELLE
Why?
XENA
To check out Yleina's story. If
I'm right, then Yleina was lying
about Claudius attacking Brittania,
which means that Rome may be in
trouble.
Xena sets off. Gabrielle follows behind her.
GABRIELLE
Wait, let me get this straight: you
wanna help Rome?
Xena stops. Gabrielle's question gives her pause.
XENA
Yeah, yeah, I guess I do. Boy,
there really is a first time for
everything.
The girls keep on.
EXT. CAESAR'S PALACE - DAY
Various people go by chatting and conducting their business.
INT. CAESAR'S PALACE - PRIVATE BATH HOUSE - CONTINUOUS
CLAUDIUS, a man in his late thirties/early forties and his
wife, AGRIPPINA (she has long, red hair) , who looks a decade
younger are locked in a passionate kiss, the water covering
their unmentionables.
A SHADOWY FIGURE wearing a black cloak watches them from
behind some pillars.
A beat and they break their embrace. Footsteps can be heard
in the background. They're not the Shadowy figure's, but
they do make him take off in a hurry.
A MESSENGER (owner of the footsteps) comes in. Claudius
looks angry.
CLAUDIUS
How dare you enter my bath without
announcing yourself.
MESSENGER
I'm sorry, emperor Claudius. I
have a message for you. It's from
Xena.
Agrippina's jaw drops, but she covers quickly. Claudius
takes the scroll from the Messenger.
CLAUDIUS
Leave.
The messenger bows, then goes.
Claudius opens the scroll.
AGRIPPINA
What does it say?
SERIES OF SHOTS
1) Xena tending to Gabrielle's wounds on a boat.
2) Gabrielle tending to Xena's wounds.
3) Xena and Gabrielle shop for new clothes in a Roman shop
(their wounds are completely healed).
END SERIES OF SHOTS
INT. CAESAR'S PALACE - MEETING HALL - DAY
It's very opulent and plush. Claudius and Agrippina sit in
awe-inspirirng thrones.
Xena and Gabrielle enter. Xena's wearing an outfit similar
to the one she wore in the Herc trilogy. The difference: no
cape. She only has a sword.
Gabrielle wears a short black sport top and matching skirt.
She carries chobos in lieu of her sais.
Also of note: Xena and Gabrielle don't stand as close to each
other as they usually do.
CLAUDIUS
(smiles)
We were wondering when you two
would arrive. You sent word that
you had some important news to
discuss with us.
XENA
Yes. I think it's safe to say
that Britannia is planning to
attack Rome.
Agrippina gasps.
XENA
What?
CLAUDIUS
Brittania's already attacked. Not
Rome directly, but lands we occupy
in Britannia. Suetonius Paulinus
recently informed me that Londinium
was taken by the rebels.
Claudius and Agrippina's son, NERO, enters. He's a strapping
young man of fourteen.
NERO
Father, you --
He eyes Xena and Gabrielle, with emphasis on Gabrielle. He
smiles when he sees her.
NERO
I'm sorry, I didn't know you had
company.
CLAUDIUS
It's alright. You can stay. Xena,
Gabrielle, this is my son, Nero.
NERO
(smiling at Gabrielle)
It's nice to meet you.
They smile and nod his way.
CLAUDIUS
(to Xena)
Do you know who's behind these
attacks?
XENA
You mean you don't know?
CLAUDIUS
(shakes head)
I'm afraid not. I know the Britons
don't like being under our rule,
especially after Livia, but I've
taken great pains to rectify the
situation.
GABRIELLE
Have you given them their country
back?
A beat to indicate Claudius has not. Gabrielle looks
disappointed.
XENA
Yleina is responsible for the
attacks.
Agrippina is taken aback by the mention of the name. Xena
notices. Claudius doesn't look like he recognizes the name.
CLAUDIUS
I'm sorry, I've never heard of her.
XENA
She's one of Boadicea's daughters.
A beat, then:
CLAUDIUS
Oh yes, now I remember. I thought
both of them died when they were
forced into slavery. At least
that's what I was always told. Is
it possible that it's an imposter?
XENA
No. She looks too much like her
mother.
That's not what Claudius wanted to hear.
CLAUDIUS
And the other one -- is she still
alive?
XENA
I don't know, but I think your wife
might have an idea.
Everyone's eyes fall on a stunned Agrippina.
END OF ACT ONE
ACT TWO
FADE IN:
INT. CAESAR'S PALACE - MEETING HALL - DAY
Where we left off.
AGRIPPINA
I don't know what you're talking
about.
XENA
Yes you do, I saw your face.
CLAUDIUS
Xena, you're being ridiculous. How
would Agrippina know anything about
Boadicea's other daughter?
NERO
I think you need to leave now,
Xena.
Xena doesn't budge an inch. She just keeps looking at
Agrippina.
XENA
You, your husband, and your son are
gonna lose everything unless you
come clean with me.
NERO
Enough.
Nero draws his sword. Xena isn't concerned at all by this.
Nero advances toward Xena. Gabrielle comes to her defense.
XENA
Stay outta this, Gabrielle.
Gabrielle backs away.
Xena steadies herself for a fight. Claudius looks fed up.
CLAUDIUS
Guards!
We hear footsteps.
AGRIPPINA
(to Xena)
Alright, I'll tell you everything!
Everybody, just calm down.
The guards enter. Claudius gestures for them to leave, and
they do.
XENA
Alright, Agrippina, let's have it.
AGRIPPINA
I'm Boadicea's other daughter.
Everyone's jaw drops, save for Xena's. Claudius in
particular is flabbergasted.
CLAUDIUS
I... you never --
AGRIPPINA
I know how Romans feel about
Britons.
Claudius looks hurt.
CLAUDIUS
You could've been from Gaul and it
wouldn't have mattered to me. I
love you.
Agrippina's touched.
CLAUDIUS
Have you told me your real name?
AGRIPPINA
Agrippina is my real name. Now. I
was born as Callia, the eldest
daughter of Boadicea and
Prastaugus. One of my masters
didn't like my slave name, so he
changed it. Sometimes, I'd forget
my name used to be Callia and I
used to be a princess, then when
I'd be washing the floors, or
performing some other slave duty,
I'd remember.
Claudius, Gabrielle, and Nero go all softie; Xena seems
unmoved.
NERO
Oh, mother --
XENA
Have you had any contact with your
sister since you parted ways?
AGRIPPINA
No. No, she never had much use for
me. I wasn't much of a fighter
like her and my parents. Though
back when we were slaves she used
to always talk about taking back
the West Midlands. Our grandmother
died there.
Claudius looks frightened.
CLAUDIUS
Suetonius Paulinus was right. He
had informed me that a string of
attacks have been made by some
woman and her army, and that he
thinks they'll be hitting the West
Midlands soon.
NERO
Father, surely this can't be that
much of a problem. How big of a
threat can a former slave be?
AGRIPPINA
Don't talk about your aunt that
way.
XENA
That former slave has an army of
over a hundred-thousand.
Everyone, save for Xena and Gabrielle, is taken aback.
CLAUDIUS
(to Agrippina)
Maybe if she knew you and Nero were
here, and happy, she'd change her
mind.
XENA
No, she won't.
AGRIPPINA
Xena's right. Yleina has her heart
set on defending our people.
Claudius looks even more fearful.
XENA
Claudius, if you give me control of
your men in Britannia, I can stop
Yleina.
Nero snorts at Xena's request.
CLAUDIUS
Yes, of course. Suetonius is on
his way to the West Midlands. I'll
send word to him that you're coming
and he's to give you complete
control.
NERO
Father, you can't be serious.
You're going to give Suetonius and
his men orders to follow Xena, a
woman who has shown nothing but
contempt for Rome?
(off Xena's look)
Yes, I've read about your dealings
with Pompey, Crassus, and Caesar,
not to mention what you did to
Caligula.
CLAUDIUS
That's enough. Xena did a good
thing by getting rid of Caligula.
The man was a raving lunatic, you
saw so yourself.
Xena sneers in Nero's direction before she and Gabrielle turn
to leave. They stop when:
CLAUDIUS
Xena?
XENA
(turns around)
Yes?
CLAUDIUS
How'd you get involved in all of
this, anyway?
A beat.
XENA
It doesn't matter.
Xena and Gabrielle walk off.
INT. BOAT - ROOM - NIGHT
Xena sharpens her sword. Gabrielle writes on her scroll.
She looks at Xena.
GABRIELLE
Do you trust Callia?
XENA
I'm not sure yet. Yleina fed us a
load of horse manure and look what
happened. Callia could be doing the
same thing.
GABRIELLE
Everything Yleina said about her
past seems to be true. She just
lied about her intentions.
XENA
No. She told us her sister was
dead.
GABRIELLE
She said that an ex-slave told her
that.
(off Xena's look)
I'm not being naive. I'm just
saying there's a possibility that a
mistaken ex-slave could've told her
that.
XENA
I don't buy it.
GABRIELLE
What I don't get is how someone
like Claudius ended up with Callia.
Granted, she used to be royalty,
but he didn't know that. He
thought she really was just a
slave.
XENA
You can't help who you fall in love
with.
Xena and Gabrielle share a knowing look.
GABRIELLE
Are we doing the right thing,
helping Rome?
XENA
Of course we are. After what
Yleina did -- you shouldn't even
have to ask.
GABRIELLE
I'm not saying what Yleina did to
us wasn't wrong; I know it was,
but...
XENA
But what?
GABRIELLE
She did lose everything and it is
Rome's fault. Under different
circumstances, we'd be helping her
free her people, but because of
what she did to us --
XENA
She had her chance. We were
willing to help her and she
brutalized us for hours.
Everything bad that happens to her
she deserves. I can't believe this
is even an issue.
GABRIELLE
I know, but --
XENA
If you don't wanna fight, you don't
have to.
Xena puts her hand on Gabrielle's shoulder for support.
XENA
I'll understand.
Gabrielle removes Xena's hand from her shoulder and walks
away from her. Xena looks like she's about to cry.
GABRIELLE
I can't let you fight alone.
XENA
I won't be alone. I'll have
several Roman legions backing me
up.
GABRIELLE
That's not what I meant.
XENA
(half-smile)
I know.
Gabrielle turns to face Xena and returns the half-smile.
INT. CAESAR'S PALACE - BEDROOM - NIGHT
Claudius and Agrippina lie in bed. Claudius is asleep.
Agrippina's awake, looking up at the ceiling.
She looks disturbed by something, looks over at the knocked
out Claudius. She gets out of bed, heads for the door...
CLAUDIUS (O.S.)
Where are you going?
Agrippina stops dead in her tracks. She turns to face
Claudius.
AGRIPPINA
I was going for a walk. I can't
sleep.
Claudius sits up.
CLAUDIUS
Would you like to talk?
AGRIPPINA
About what?
CLAUDIUS
About what? You just found out
that your sister is alive and
planning to attack us.
AGRIPPINA
Oh. I suppose that was a bit of a
shocker, wasn't it?
CLAUDIUS
More than a bit, I'd say. Were you
and your sister close?
AGRIPPINA
We were... once upon a time.
CLAUDIUS
So you wouldn't mind if she died?
AGRIPPINA
I'm not sure I follow.
CLAUDIUS
Well Xena's after her... I don't
know if you're familiar with her
past --
AGRIPPINA
I'm well aware of what Xena does
and has done.
CLAUDIUS
Then I think you know as well as I
do that Yleina is a dead woman.
AGRIPPINA
Think so, huh?
CLAUDIUS
Of course. Did you see Xena's face
when she came here? I was worried
my head was on the chopping block.
Agrippina looks broken.
CLAUDIUS
I'd ask Xena to spare her for your
sake, but she's too much of a
danger to Rome. Besides, I don't
think Xena would anyway.
She turns to leave, somewhat distraught.
CLAUDIUS
Now where are you going?
AGRIPPINA
I think Nero should know that he
may be losing an aunt.
Agrippina exits.
INT. CAESAR'S PALACE - NERO'S BEDROOM - NIGHT
Nero sits on his bed, playing his fiddle. There's a knock at
the door.
He opens it. It's Agrippina. She enters, closes the door
behind her.
They look at each other, longing in their eyes. Nero takes
Agrippina in his arms and they kiss.
END OF ACT TWO
ACT THREE
FADE IN:
INT. CAESAR'S PALACE - NERO'S BEDROOM - NIGHT
Nero and Agrippina break their kiss.
NERO
You're the best mother in the
world.
AGRIPPINA
And don't you forget it. Did you
do what I asked?
NERO
Yes, ma'am. Xena and her
girlfriend aren't gonna know what
hit 'em.
Agrippina kisses Nero.
AGRIPPINA
Good boy. Hopefully they die this
time.
NERO
I like the blonde one.
(stroking his flute)
She seems so pure and chaste.
Agrippina seems a little disturbed, but Nero doesn't notice.
AGRIPPINA
Stop it, you're gonna make me
jealous.
NERO
You've already made me jealous.
AGRIPPINA
(sighs)
Not this again.
NERO
I hate seeing you with Claudius.
AGRIPPINA
I told you it's all a part of my
plan. I promise you this won't be
going on much longer. After we've
washed our hands clean of Claudius
and Xena, we'll go after Livia.
Now, forget about the blonde, she's
worm food.
Agrippina turns to leave. Nero grabs her.
NERO
You mean we're not gonna...
Nero smiles. A beat as Agrippina catches on. She returns
Nero's smile.
She kisses him. They fall back onto his bed.
INT. BASEMENT - NIGHT (FLASHBACK)
A younger Agrippina fast asleep on a cold floor. A hand
comes into view, shakes her awake. It's Yleina. They
whisper throughout this scene.
AGRIPPINA
What's going on?
YLEINA
I'm leaving, and I want you to come
with me.
AGRIPPINA
Are you crazy? Do you even
remember what happened the last
time we tried to escape?
YLEINA
I don't care. I can't stay here
anymore.
AGRIPPINA
You're being silly. What will you
do to take care of yourself?
YLEINA
I...
Agrippina's words register in Yleina's mind.
YLEINA
You're not coming with me, are you?
Tears well up in Agrippina's eyes.
AGRIPPINA
I want to. The gods know how much I
want to... but they also know how
much I want to live.
Yleina hugs Agrippina.
YLEINA
Take care of yourself.
Yleina moves over to a trap door.
AGRIPPINA
Yleina, you're... you're really
going to leave me?
They share a look that would beak anyone's heart. Yleina
opens the trap door, then goes down its entrance, leaving a
distraught Agrippina to watch.
EXT. CAMPSITE - NIGHT (PRESENT)
Yleina sits by the fire, looking into it, pensive. She has
Xena's chakram attached to her and her (Xena) sword by her
side.
In the background we can see a grand feast going on and we
can hear campfire songs.
A SOLDIER (late 50s) comes into frame. He bows.
SOLDIER
May I join you?
Yleina nods. He takes a seat next to her.
SOLDIER
If your mother were alive, she'd be
very proud of you.
YLEINA
You think so?
SOLDIER
I know so.
Yleina looks like she disagrees.
SOLDIER
What you're doing -- fighting
against Rome to get our country
back -- your mother would be doing
it herself if she were alive.
Yleina says nothing. She just keeps looking at the fire.
SOLDIER
I have something for you.
The Soldier hands Yleina a piece of parchment. She reads it.
She looks alarmed. The Soldier notices.
SOLDIER
Something wrong?
Yleina shakes her head.
YLEINA
No.
(beat)
You were one of the men in my
mother's army, weren't you?
SOLDIER
Yes, I was.
YLEINA
What was she like in battle?
SOLDIER
Amazing. I've never seen anyone --
male or female -- fight so fiercely
in my entire life. Except for your
father. Your parents were two of
the bravest people I've ever met.
They always did the right thing.
Yleina keeps looking at the fire. Her look is maudlin.
YLEINA
Tell me more about my parents...
when they were in battle.
EXT. SUETONIUS' CAMPSITE - DAY
SUETONIUS PAULINIUS is a middle-aged, hardened man with a
superiority complex and racist beliefs. He's surrounded by
his men (ten thousand).
SUETONIUS
Those filthy Britons think that
just because they've won a few
battles that they've defeated us.
Ignorant fools! No one in the
known world is capable of defeating
the Romans!
XENA (O.S.)
Nice speech.
Suetonius turns to see Xena glaring at him, and Gabrielle by
her side, looking slightly bothered.
One of Suetonius' men pulls back his bow (equipped with
arrow), aims it at Xena and Gabrielle.
Suetonius puts up his hand to stop him. Xena and Gabrielle
approach.
SUETONIUS
You must be Xena. I've always
wanted to meet you. You're
infamous amongst us Romans.
XENA
Oh, goodie.
(looking at Suetonius'
men)
Where are the rest of your men?
SUETONIUS
This is the most I could gather.
XENA
(sighs)
Are you ready to go?
SUETONIUS
(smug)
First, we need to establish some
rules: I'm in control of these men.
They take orders from me and me
only. And you are to work under
me. You don't make a move without
my say so. Understood?
Xena stares at him a beat. Suetonius smiles.
Xena grabs him by the throat. Suetonius' men draw their
weapons, ready to attack.
XENA
(to men)
Move and he dies.
The men hold their fire.
XENA
(to Suetonius)
I want the scroll Claudius sent to
you.
SUETONIUS
(struggling to speak)
It's in my pouch.
Xena lowers her eyes to find a pouch hanging on Suetonius'
belt. She rips it off and shoves Suetonius to the ground.
Suetonius gasps for air.
SUETONIUS
(under his breath)
Filthy Greeks.
Xena looks like she heard it, but she does nothing about it.
She opens the pouch and pulls out the scroll. She reads it.
XENA
Hmm... according to Claudius, the
emperor, I'm in control of these
men.
Suetonius gets up, rubs his throat.
SUETONIUS
(through gritted teeth)
Right. How could I have missed
that?
(to men)
Xena's in charge.
XENA
Good to have that settled. Let's
go.
EXT. FOREST 2 - DAY
Xena, Gabrielle, Suetonius, and the men ride through.
XENA
(to Suetonius)
How much longer until we get to the
West Midlands?
SUETONIUS
Not much longer. Should be there
any second.
We hear something whizzing through the air, triggering Xena's
spidey senses. Gabrielle catches on.
GABRIELLE
What is it?
Xena's chakram comes outta nowhere, nearly taking Gabrielle's
face off. Xena catches it.
XENA
Everybody, shields!
The Romans follow Xena's orders. Xena and Gabrielle each
have their own shields.
A beat and Xena and co. are flooded with arrows.
Another beat and Yleina swoops down on her enemies. Xena
spots them.
XENA
Brace yourselves!
Yleina's army is around the two-hundred thousand mark. It's
mixed with true warriors and civilians.
Xena charges with her men and a huge fight erupts.
XENA
Slices through a warrior with her chakram, then puts it on
her belt. She spins and cuts down a warrior behind her with
her sword (she drew it during the spin). She spins again and
decapitates a warrior. She sees...
YLEINA
Their eyes lock, each set full of fury and hatred for the
other.
We move over to...
GABRIELLE
She has a short sword (chobos in her boots). She's parrying
with a warrior on horseback. She manages to disarm him and
knock him off his horse.
XENA
Flips her sword to stab the warrior behind her in the chest.
THE WARRIOR
Falls off his horse, dead.
XENA
Leaps out of her saddle to kick two warriors in front of her.
They go flying back.
YLEINA
kicks ass too. Two warriors charge her at the same time.
She brings her sword (Boadicea's old sword actually. It
should also be noted that she has Xena's sword on her side)
down on one, then the other, killing them both.
She follows that move with a backflip that unseats two
oncoming warriors.
SUETONIUS
May be a bad guy, but he's not a bad warrior. He dukes it
out with two warriors at the same time. He makes short work
of them.
GABRIELLE
Unseats another warrior from his horse with a kick to the
chest.
YLEINA
Now has a javelin. She rushes several warriors, skewering
them all. She drops her javelin, draws her swords and spins
to slit the throat of the warrior behind her.
She notices something off to her side.
YLEINA'S POV - Suetonius killing the Soldier she was talking
to at the campsite.
ON YLEINA
She sees red. She makes her way over to Suetonius when:
XENA
Swings her sword backward, decapitating a warrior coming up
behind her. She looks around and sees that Yleina's side is
winning.
XENA
Retreat! Head for the hills!
Xena cuts down another warrior.
Xena's retreat call creates an even larger chasm between her
and Gabrielle, preventing her from reaching her friend.
XENA
Gabrielle?!
Gabrielle hears Xena's voice and makes her way to her. As
they head for the hills:
XENA
Stick close to me.
GABRIELLE
I can take care of myself.
Xena and her men cut through some of Yleina's men to make
their way to the hills.
Yleina watches them as they ride away. She spots Suetonius
as one of her soldiers rides past her, carrying a spear. She
stops him.
YLEINA
Give me your spear.
He does while Yleina watches Suetonius the way a hawk watches
his prey. She takes the spear and throws it at Suetonius
with enough force to move a mountain.
The spear soars through the air and bursts through Suetonius'
chest. He falls off his horse.
His men see his defeat as does Xena and Gabrielle. Xena
looks back at Yleina as if to say "This doesn't end here."
Yleina gives Xena a sweet smile in return.
Xena, Gabrielle and their men continue on toward the hills.
END OF ACT THREE
ACT FOUR
FADE IN:
EXT. WEST MIDLANDS - DAY
The men look demoralized and beaten. A thick forest is
behind them. Two WARRIORS begin talking all at once while
Xena surveys the land. Gabrielle watches her in amazement.
WARRIOR 1
They've killed Suetonius.
WARRIOR 2
And that army -- it's more than
three times the size of ours!
WARRIOR 1
We'll be dead in less than a minute
if we face them again on the
battlefield.
XENA
Alright, now you listen up: yes,
they're greater in numbers, and yes
Suetonius is dead, but those things
don't matter. You wanna know why?
Because you are warriors of Rome --
the elite of elite. Your skill and
cunning on the battlefield is
legendary. Do you really wanna
besmirch a reputation like that by
running away just because you're
outnumbered? 'cause if so, then
you don't deserve to be called
Romans.
WARRIOR 1
(sanguine)
Okay, Xena, tell us what to do.
How are we gonna defeat these
bastards?
XENA
Leave that to me and my second-in
command.
Xena motions for Gabrielle to follow her. They walk a
considerable distance from the men.
GABRIELLE
What'd you figure out?
XENA
(pointing at dense forest)
Look.
Gabrielle looks.
XENA
If we stage the battle here...
GABRIELLE
Yleina can only attack us from one
direction.
XENA
Right. All of our men are highly
trained. If the men listen to me,
we can wipe the floor with Yleina.
(off Gabrielle's look)
What?
GABRIELLE
Xena, we're greatly outnumbered...
are you sure we can win?
XENA
Very.
They look at each other for a beat, a longing in their eyes.
XENA
Gabrielle, what I said on the boat
still stands.
GABRIELLE
I'm not leaving you.
Gabrielle heads back over to the men. A beat and Xena
follows her.
INT. CAESAR'S PALACE - DINING AREA - DAY
Claudius, Agrippina, and Nero sit around a grand table.
Claudius looks extremely troubled. Nero watches him, trying
his darnedest not to smile.
NERO
Father, you alright?
CLAUDIUS
I should've gone with Xena. I
should've gone with her to make
sure the job got done.
AGRIPPINA
It's good that you didn't. You're
needed here.
NERO
Mother's right.
Nero and Agrippina smile at each other. A beat, then:
AGRIPPINA
(to Claudius)
I had your favorite meal prepared.
Agrippina claps her hands for the servants to come. Three
slightly overweight women enter, carrying various trays of
food.
One sits down a tray in front of Claudius, and the other two
sit trays down in front of Nero and Agrippina.
CLAUDIUS' POV - A tray of stuffed mushrooms.
Claudius looks up at Agrippina, smiles, then digs in. He's
watched by Agrippina and Nero.
EXT. WEST MIDLANDS - DAY
ON XENA
She's watching Yleina's army approaching. The true warriors
are up front while the civilians (average men, women, and
children) stay behind in wagons with the supplies.
ON GABRIELLE
She has her short sword in her hand. When she sees the
civilians, she looks rueful.
Xena, however, is still resolved. She mounts her horse.
Gabrielle mounts hers.
YLEINA'S ARMY
Is steadily approaching... halfway there...
XENA
Now!
The Romans form the phalanx -- their shields above them to
create a protective ceiling against British spears. Xena and
Gabrielle stay in the bay with the rest of the calvary.
Wave after wave of spears keep coming, but they take not a
Roman's life.
The Brits are now only several feet from the Romans.
XENA
Now!
The phalanx formation is quickly made into a wedge, and a
hail of heavy javelins come down on the Britons, killing
about half of the ones advancing.
Xena smiles.
XENA
Auxiliary infantry, attack!
The auxiliary infantry move and a huge battle begins in the
middle of the two powerhouse forces.
ON YLEINA
She's watching the battle and is surprised to see the Romans
holding their own.
YLEINA
(to calvary)
Charge!
Yleina and the calvary move in. Xena swings her sword over
her head, then rides forward along with Gabrielle and their
men.
When the cavalries collide, the earth shakes. Well, not
really, but that's the feeling one gets.
XENA
Gets bombarded by several infantrymen. She uses her chakram
and sword to slice them open. Two cavalrymen charge her and
she throws her chakram at them, slitting their throats.
GABRIELLE
Does battle with another warrior on horseback. The warrior
tries to decapitate her. She bends backward, narrowly
escaping the blow.
The warrior brings the sword down on her. Gabrielle blocks
it with her own.
YLEINA
Cuts a swathe through the Roman infantrymen in an attempt to
get to Xena.
GABRIELLE
Still, on her back, struggles with her warrior. She lifts
one of her feet out of the stirs to kick the warrior in the
side.
THE WARRIOR
Falls off his horse. He tries to stab Gabrielle's horse in
its hind legs, but...
GABRIELLE
Brings her sword behind her to stab the warrior in the back.
She rides on.
XENA
Parries with a warrior on horseback. She disarms him, then
carves an "X" in his chest with her sword.
YLEINA
Takes one of her feet out of the stirs to kick an advancing
infantryman.
YLEINA'S POV - Xena, a couple feet away, taking out a warrior
on horseback.
YLEINA
Rides over to Xena, killing every enemy in sight until...
XENA AND YLEINA
Bring their blades against each other. They engage in an
epic sword fight.
GABRIELLE
Swings her sword in an arc that knocks her opponent of her
horse.
Every strike Yleina tries, Xena parries. She manages to get a
kick in on the warrior princess, but Xena quickly responds
with a backfisted punch.
The two warrior women keep going at it. A few beats and
their swords lock. They grab each other's sword-hand in an
attempt to overpower the other.
XENA
Bends back and does a double kick to Yleina's abdomen.
YLEINA
Flies off her horse to the rear area of the battle.
YLEINA'S POV - The bulk of the advancing Britons are now
dead, and chaos is mounting in the British rear guard over
the swift effort; the Roman cavalry rides in and attacks
from the sides, trapping the Britons against the fields of
dead, to the rear where the British are weakest: where their
families sit in their wagons, defenseless.
Gabrielle also sees what Yleina sees, and is extremely
troubled by the sight. While she watches, almost in a
trance, a warrior on horseback comes out of nowhere and
punches her in the face, knocking her off her horse.
The warrior attempts to trample Gabrielle with his horse, but
fails when Gabrielle takes her sword and throws it into his
chest. The warrior falls off his horse, dead.
GABRIELLE
Leaps up and draws her chobos at the same time. She clubs an
approaching foot soldier in the head a few times, knocking
him out.
YLEINA'S POV - Xena takes her original sword from Yleina's
horse and rides furiously toward her.
YLEINA
Looks around, sees an oncoming Roman on horseback. She leaps
in the air and kicks him off his horse, taking it for
herself. She rides off until she reaches the very rear, then
flips into one of the trees, running across them like an
amazon.
XENA
Flips into the same tree, giving chase.
GABRIELLE
Is a lean, mean fighting machine. She's as good with the
chobos as she is with her sais. Speaking of sais, she sees a
British warrior using them a few feet in front of her,
distracting her from her present battle.
FLASH: The warrior with sais beating Gabrielle.
GABRIELLE
Takes a kick to the head due to being distracted. She
quickly recovers, and sweeps the legs of the warrior who hit
her out from underneath him, then delivers a vicious kick of
her own to his temple. She gets up.
EXT. FOREST 3 - DAY - (CONTINUOUS)
YLEINA
Moves through the trees with amazing alacrity, a bit of fear
and disappointment in her eyes.
In the background:
XENA (O.S.)
ALALALALSHEEEYAH!
YLEINA
Looks behind her to see Xena galloping across the trees at
full speed, a wicked grin upon her face.
EXT. WEST MIDLANDS - DAY (CONTINUOUS)
Gabrielle swings her chobos at the warrior who beat and raped
her earlier, and he matches each of her swings with the sais.
First, he knocks one chobo out of Gabrielle's hand, then the
other one, followed by a swift kick to her midsection.
GABRIELLE
Stumbles backward.
THE WARRIOR
Charges.
GABRIELLE
Sees a sword lying on the ground. She picks it up and swings
it at the warrior with an unbelievable amount of force,
ripping his throat open like a pinanata.
THE WARRIOR
Hits the ground with a thud.
GABRIELLE
Takes her sais, looks at the fallen warrior's body pensively,
then rejoins the fighting.
EXT. FOREST 3 - DAY
Yleina is still running across the trees. She looks behinds
her, but there's no sign of Xena. She turns back around and
receives a jumping, spinning kick in the neck from Xena.
YLEINA
Falls to the ground. She lands on her face.
XENA
Flips to the ground, puts the pinch on her.
XENA
I've cut off the flow of blood to
your brain. You'll be dead in
thirty seconds.
(beat)
I want you to know something: I
deserved what you did to me. Maybe
even worse, and if you had just
came after me, then that'd be okay,
but you didn't.
(beat)
You chose to include Gabrielle in
your sick and twisted game and you
made me watch.
YLEINA
That's only because everyone knows
to hurt Gabrielle is to hurt Xena,
so in a way, this is really all
your fault. Your love is a curse.
A beat. Xena is starting to look more like her evil half.
XENA
I'm going to enjoy this.
YLEINA
I'm not afraid to die, Xena.
XENA
Then why'd you run?
YLEINA
What makes you think I was running?
Before Xena can respond:
GABRIELLE (O.S.)
Xena?!
Xena turns in the direction of Gabrielle's voice.
XENA
Guess we'll have to end this sooner
that I'd hoped.
Yleina looks grateful for that. Xena snaps Yleina's neck
with her foot. A few beats and Gabrielle shows up.
GABRIELLE
There you are.
XENA
Worried?
GABRIELLE
Of course not.
XENA
(looking at sais)
When you'd get those back?
GABRIELLE
I...
Gabrielle's eyes trail over to Yleina's body.
XENA
I... I had to.
GABRIELLE
No need to get defensive. If you
had to, you had to. I understand.
XENA
Let's get back to the battle.
They start walking.
GABRIELLE
The battle's over. I came to tell
you.
EXT. FOREST 3 - DAY
Xena and Gabrielle enter. They see that the Romans have
killed not just the warriors, but the civilians too (men,
women, and children).
They're now stealing their enemies' goods. Gabrielle looks
disgusted. Xena's outraged.
XENA
(to men)
What are you doing?!
WARRIOR 1
(smiling)
Celebrating our victory.
XENA
Not like this, not while you're
under my command. Put it back, all
of you.
WARRIOR 1
(draws his sword)
Make us.
The other Romans follow suit. There's about eight-thousand
Romans. They look worn and they're all injured.
Gabrielle steps in front of a concerned Xena, full of
confidence.
GABRIELLE
I don't think you wanna do this.
This is Xena -- the woman who
single-handedly took out the
Persian army, not to mention most
of Olympus.
A beat as the Romans take in Gabrielle's words. They sheathe
their swords.
WARRIOR 1
Sorry, Xena, we let our greed get
the better of us.
Xena looks at Gabrielle, smiles.
XENA
Forget about it. Let's get back to
Rome.
All of the Romans are in agreement.
INT. CAESAR'S PALACE - MEETING HALL - DAY
Xena and Gabrielle enter to see Nero wearing a laurel wreath
and black robes. He looks morose.
XENA
Nero, I need to speak to your
father immediately.
Nero says nothing. He just keeps up his morose look.
XENA
What's going on?
NERO
My father... he's dead.
XENA
Who killed him?
Nero looks taken aback.
NERO
Uh, no one. We were having dinner
and shortly afterward, he was gone.
XENA
Someone could've poisoned his food.
Again, Nero's surprised at Xena's declaration.
NERO
I'd doubt it. All of Rome loves
Claudius. My mother's been
grieving for days.
Xena looks like she's just figured out something. Gabrielle
notices.
NERO
Will you and Gabrielle be able to
stay for the funeral?
GABRIELLE
No, we can't. We have to get back
to Greece.
Xena looks at Gabrielle, surprised. Nero looks at Xena, as
though he's double checking Gabrielle's answer. Xena's face
becomes blank.
XENA
Yeah, what she said. Do give
Agrippina our regards.
NERO
Of course.
Xena and Gabrielle turn to exit when:
NERO
Xena, what happened to Yleina? My
mother will want to know.
XENA
(without turning around)
She's dead.
And she and Gabrielle keep on walking.
INT. BOAT - ROOM - DAY
Xena and Gabrielle enter.
GABRIELLE
What was going on back there?
They sit on the bed.
XENA
I think we got played, not only by
Yleina, but Callia and Nero as
well.
GABRIELLE
Why? What happened?
XENA
Yleina was waiting for us when we
arrived at the West Midlands and
some of the things that Yleina said
while we were fighting. It made me
believe that our battle in
Britannia was just one part in a
big plan. Yleina's job was to kill
me and regain custody of Britannia
-
GABRIELLE
And Callia and Nero's job was to
take over Rome. We have to do
something.
XENA
We will, but first I wanna find Eve
and keep her with us. I don't like
her being out there alone if she's
unwilling to defend herself,
especially after what happened to
us.
This stings Gabrielle.
GABRIELLE
Xena, I have something to tell you.
XENA
What?
GABRIELLE
During our last battle in
Britannia, I saw the man who...
who...
Xena puts her hand on Gabrielle's for support, and
surprisingly, Gabrielle doesn't pull away.
XENA
It's alright, I know.
GABRIELLE
When I saw him, not only did I want
to kill him, I made up my mind that
I was going to kill him. I --
Xena hugs Gabrielle.
XENA
You have nothing to be ashamed of,
Gabrielle, nothing.
GABRIELLE
Xena, you don't understand. I
didn't just kill someone, I
murdered someone.
XENA
I understand Gabrielle. Better
than you think.
INT. CAESAR'S PALACE - BEDROOM - NIGHT
We see two people going at it under the covers. A beat, and
they come up for air. It's Agrippina and Nero.
AGRIPPINA
So Yleina's dead?
NERO
Yeah. I'd reckon it was Xena who
did her in.
Nero turns to see Agrippina looking sad.
NERO
And I think Xena and Gabrielle are
onto us.
Agrippina sits upright, concerned.
NERO
They couldn't wait to get out of
here once I told them of Claudius'
death. And Xena -- she even
figured out how we killed him.
AGRIPPINA
Yeah, she's always been extremely
clever.
NERO
I have some good news, though.
AGRIPPINA
Yeah?
NERO
Suetonius Paulinius is dead. Our
spies tell me it was Yleina who
killed him with a spear.
AGRIPPINA
(smiling)
He was the worst master I've ever
had.
They look up at the ceiling as we...
FADE OUT.
END